Useful galloper Art Of Speed is back on track and seems to be nearing his peak at the right moment seven months after his promising career was curtailed by a bleeding attack in a Group 1 race.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The Arowana Stable-owned five-time winner (between 1200m and 1400m) was immediately spelled by trainer Leslie Khoo after he bled following the running of the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby won by Clint last July.
Khoo had always been of the belief his charge could run out the Derby trip despite being by noted sire of sprinters More Than Ready. The 2000m journey of the Derby however found him out, but last year's Singapore premiership runner-up was not about to change tack on testing Art Of Speed over further than his pet trip of 1400m (over which he scored four of his five wins) as he attempts to reignite the gelding's interrupted career.
Art Of Speed raced over 1200m first-up on February 12 when he screamed home for a close second to One More Minute. The two rivals met again in a 1400m race two weeks later, and again finished in that order, but both were comfortably beaten by Mr Raffles this time.
By lining him up in this Sunday's Group 3 Polytrack Mile Championship, Khoo is raising the bar to 1600m, a distance which Art Of Speed has never tackled before – and over Polytrack, which is not exactly his preferred surface as he has raced over it only once in 13 starts for a fourth place.
“It's his first time over 1600m but I don't think it will be a problem,” said Khoo.
“I've always felt he could run a trip but maybe the Derby was too far for him. He's also running over Polytrack which he has raced over only once.
“But his two runs from a spell have both been very good. He flew home first-up over 1200m and again ran well over 1400m.
“He's come back a stronger horse and looking at the way he ran on late, the mile should be up his alley.
“He is facing a strong field in the Polytrack Mile, but there are no standouts. I think he has a good chance.”
Khoo has again entrusted the reins to Australian jockey Stephen Baster, who jumped aboard Art Of Speed for the first time at his last start.
“He raced against his pattern of being on the speed on the fence but he still ran on very well,” said Baster who is into the third month of his six-month licence.
“I rode him this morning (Tuesday) and he worked really well. It's however a weight-for-age race which is a bit of a disadvantage, but we'll see.”
Baster, 37, whose eight Kranji wins include one win for Khoo aboard See Me Win on February 19, is certainly looking forward to his first ride in a Group race in Singapore.
“It's my first Group race here and that is what it is all about. I came here to ride winners and hopefully a few at Group level - and it doesn't get any better than this,” said Baster, who counts 11 Group 1 wins to his name including the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap with Mookta back home.
“Things have gone really well for me here. I've ridden eight winners so far and I'm getting support from many trainers.”
